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Isaac Asimov

アイザック・アシモフ

Aizakku Ashimofu

Pen Names: Dr. A（Used for some adult-themed works）, Paul French（Used for juvenile/children's fiction）, George E. Dale（Pen name used once for an early short story）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1920-01-02 （Russian SFSR, Petrovichi）
Died
1992-04-06 （United States; New York City, New York (Brooklyn)） age 72
Nationality
United States
Languages
English, Yiddish
Religion
Humanism (secular humanism)
Residence History
New York (Brooklyn) → Boston (lived and worked while at Boston University) → Returned to New York (later life)

Career

Occupations
biochemist, writer, professor, essayist, short story writer, mystery writer, science popularizer, anthology editor
Active Years
1939-1992
Affiliations
Boston University (lecturer/Professor of Biochemistry), Mensa (member; left and later rejoined), American Humanist Association (served as president)
Memberships
Mensa (member), American Humanist Association
Influenced By
Clifford D. Simak, H. G. Wells, John W. Campbell
Influenced
Joseph F. Engelberger (robotics), Marvin Minsky (AI researcher), Carl Sagan (science popularization)

Education

Columbia University
―― / Chemistry
Degree: 学士
Period: 1935–1939
Year of Graduation: 1939
Country: United States
Entered early (skipped grades); completed undergraduate studies young
Columbia University
Graduate school / Chemistry (biochemistry)
Degree: 博士
Period: 1946–1948
Year of Graduation: 1948
Country: United States
Returned after WWII; earned Ph.D.

Awards

Hugo Award
1963
Work: Science columns in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
Category: 批評・解説/コラム
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award
1972
Work: The Gods Themselves
Category: 長編
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
Hugo Award
1983
Work: Foundation's Edge
Category: 長編
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award
1977
Work: The Bicentennial Man
Category: 中編
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
James T. Grady Award
1965
Work: Popular writings on chemistry
Organization: American Chemical Society
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Foundation

1951 Science fiction (space opera / grand-scale SF)

The opening work of a grand saga about the fall and rebirth of a Galactic Empire, told with historical and sociological perspective.

rise and fall of civilizationscycles of historycollective behavior and prediction (psychohistory)
Translations
  • Foundation (Japanese translation)

I, Robot

1950 Science fiction (robot stories)

A collection of linked short stories exploring human-robot relations centered on the Three Laws of Robotics; examines ethical and logical dilemmas.

ethics of humans and machineslaws of AI and their loopholes
Adaptations
  • [Film] I, Robot (film) / Alex Proyas (2004)
Translations
  • I, Robot (Japanese translation)

Nightfall

1941 Science fiction (short story)

A short story about a world with many suns where a rare global night causes societal collapse; one of his most famous short works.

vulnerability of civilizationknowledge and fear
Adaptations
  • [Novelization (by Robert Silverberg)] Nightfall (novel) (1990)
Translations
  • Nightfall (Japanese translation)

The Bicentennial Man

1976 Science fiction (novella)

Story of a robot's journey to become recognized as human; explores personhood and identity.

rights and identityhumanity of machines
Adaptations
  • [Film] Bicentennial Man / The Positronic Man / Chris Columbus (1999)
Translations
  • The Bicentennial Man (Japanese translation)

Bibliography

  • Pebble in the Sky
  • Foundation series
  • I, Robot
  • Nightfall
  • The Gods Themselves
  • The Bicentennial Man
  • Asimov's Guide to the Bible
  • The Intelligent Man's Guide to Science

Adaptations

  • Bicentennial Man (film, 1999)
  • I, Robot (film, 2004)
  • Nightfall (novelization and adaptations)

Translations of Works

  • Foundation (Japanese translations)
  • I, Robot (Japanese translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, expository proselight humor and conversational tonelogical construction rooted in scientific rationalism
Recurring Motifs
robots and ethics (Three Laws of Robotics)rise and fall of large civilizationsscientific explanations and paradoxespuzzle-like mysteries

Health

  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS; HIV infection)
    1983年の心臓バイパス手術時の輸血が原因となる感染後〜1992年没
    Led to declining health in later years and was the cause of death in 1992

Legacy

Asimov was one of the foremost 20th-century science fiction writers and science popularizers; through the Foundation series and his robot stories (and the propagation of the Three Laws of Robotics) he greatly influenced SF and thinking about robotics. He authored over 500 books and is widely regarded in both literary and scientific-education circles.

Academic Societies

  • American Humanist Association

Archives

  • Isaac Asimov papers (held across libraries and special collections)

In Popular Culture

  • Asteroid (5020) Asimov, Martian crater named after him, name similarity with Honda's ASIMO, broad cultural influence

Quotes

  • 'Nightfall' was a turning point in my professional writing career. Suddenly I was regarded as an important writer and the science fiction world took notice of me.
    Source: Nightfall and Other Stories (author's commentary / autobiographical notes) (1941)

Trivia

  • He helped popularize the term 'robotics'.
  • Asteroid (5020) Asimov and a Martian crater are named after him.
  • Used the pen name 'Paul French' for juvenile novels.
  • Cause of death (HIV-related AIDS from contaminated transfusion) was revealed after his death by his widow/editor.